HSBC's branch in Gillingham High Street is to permanently close down on Friday, 16 July this year.
It is part of plans by HSBC to become a market-leading digital bank and an overhaul of how remaining branches will operate. HSBC says the decision reflected "local market trends, customer behaviour and branch usage", which would see 82 branches nationwide permanently close in 2021. Of the 82 sites closing, 81 are within a mile of a Post Office, two-thirds are within five miles of another HSBC branch and nine in 10 are within 10 miles. Jackie Uhi, HSBC UK’s Head of Network said: “We know there will always be a need for face-to-face customer support and the evolution of our branches very much takes that into account. “Making sure we have a sustainable branch network is essential to us, and decisions to close branches are not taken lightly. "By ensuring we have the most suitable branch format in each specific local market that we serve, we will ensure that we are in good shape to meet the challenges ahead.” HSBC says that even before the Covid-19 pandemic struck, the number of customers using its branches has fallen by a third in the last five years. Nine in ten (90%) of all customer contact with HSBC is now over the phone, internet or smartphone. Medway's other HSBC branches in Chatham High Street and Strood High Street will remain open as usual. Photo: Google Maps American fast food chain Subway has permanently shut its branch in Chatham High Street to customers.
A statement provided by Subway® reads: "We can confirm that the Subway® store at 257 High Street, Chatham has permanently closed. "However, we are pleased to share news that no one has lost their job and the employees have been moved to other local stores owned by the same franchise owner.” The existing Subway branches inside the Pentagon Shopping Centre and at Chatham Maritime remain open as usual. Real estate agency Cradick Retail is marketing the former Subway branch and the upper floors of the property for a rent of £22,000 per year. Its closure joins a growing list of businesses that have left Chatham town centre since the beginning of 2020. This includes Debenhams in January, Buzz Bingo in July, GO Outdoors in August, the Age UK charity shop in September, the Co-op Bank in November and KFC very recently. Thirty-one trees have been planted in and off the streets of Luton in Chatham to mark National Tree Week. Species planted include pear and birch trees in Castle Road and Listmas Road with a selection of Ginkgo Biloba in the Maida Road estate. It is hoped that the Luton Urban Tree project will help combat climate change, clean up the air and lock in carbon dioxide in an area that continues to suffer from poor air quality. The Estates Team at mhs homes, the UK's largest independent social landlord, worked alongside Arches Local, part of the National Lottery-backed Big Local scheme, to brighten up the streets of Luton during National Tree Week at the end of 2020. As part of the partnership, the three-day community scheme was also supported by local charity Medway Plus, Orchard Community Energy, the PostCode Local Trust and Medway ward councillors for the area. Arches Local Coordinator Stephen Perez said that while the best time to plant the trees would have been 15 years ago, “the second-best time was now - and by working together, that’s what we’ve achieved”. He adds: “We now look forward for many generations to come within our community to reap the benefits of this planting." "It is... an important contribution to protecting our planet from climate change." Ashley Hook, Chief Executive at mhs homes, applauded “our amazing Estates Delivery Team which has worked flat out in the rain during National Tree Week to plant trees across Luton in partnership with Arches Local.”
Describing it as “a brilliant job really well done,” he says: “It is an excellent example of our core value – community – as well as an important contribution to protecting our planet from climate change.” Arches Local was formed as part of the Big Local initiative, funded by the National Lottery, to improve areas across England, including central Chatham. National Tree Week is the UK’s largest annual tree celebration, marking the start of the winter tree planting season (November to March each year). Photos: Arches Local, mhs homes |
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